Axle box



C. A. BOWEN sept. 7, y194s.

AXLE BOX s shgets-sheet `1` Filed July 20, 1945 Inventor,l Bami, By @wenn M Attorneys,

. l. f. Il w...

Sept. 79 1948. l c. A. BWEN 2,448,655

AXLE 'ox Filed July 20, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 7, 1948. c. A. BOWEN 2,448,655

AXLE Box v Filed July 2o, 1945 s sheets-'sheet s Z4 L Z3 Inventor.'

I Allorneys',

.- mama sept. 1, 194s OFFICE AXLE BOX llirningham, Eng- Aston, land, alignsrto'lhel'lnken Roller .Companncantm hio,aoorporationo0hio Application Il!! 2i, 1945, Serial In Great Britain March 2,

is claims la. sea-ss) l This invention relates to axle boxes for railway and other rolling stock. said vaxle boxes being of the built-up welded type comprising an internal tubular lbarrel or housing adapted to receive an antiiriction axle bearing, in combination with an outer box-like frame or shell composed of separate plate members welded together and attached to the tubular barrel or housing so as to form a self-contained body unit.

The principal object oi' the present invention is to provide an improved construction of built-up welded axle box which obviates the use of cast metal, reduces the necessity of machining to a minimum, and ensures a strong and rigid but comparatively light structure,

Another object is to enable the horn guide plates to be readily machined to accurate dimensions before the axle box is built up.

A further-object is to ensure a more effective welding of the horn guide liners and cheek liners when such liners are fitted. 4

A still further object is to provide an axle box. of the kind referred to, which is eiectively sealed against the escape of lubricant, especially when lbongitudinal bolts pass through the ends of the Another object is to provide an axle box designed ior oil lubrication, which provides for the elective circulation of the oil without liability of leakage.

According to the invention a built up welded axle box of the kind referred to has the outer frame or shell braced or attached to the tubular barrel or housing by means of a plurality of longitudinally-extending stay or gusset plates disposed in longitudinal planes above the below the axis of the axle box and welded at their inner and outer edges respectively to said tubular barrel or housing or to a part thereon and to the outer trame or shell.

The sides of the outer frame or shell may consist oi"` dat single plates which may form hornguide face plates adapted to be machinedto accurate dimensions before being secured in position on the tubular barrel or housing; or each of the said sides may consist of two or more plates welded to the side of the tubular barrel or housing as well as to vertical end plates.

The stay or gusset plates may be disposed between the inner faces'of the side plates and the tubular barrel or housing at points below and above the respective top and bottom edges of the plates; or they may be disposed at the corners ci' the box.

Also. according to the invention, the axle box may comprise. in combination with vthe tubular barrel or housing. an outer frame or shell including vertical end plates applied and welded to the ends of said barrel or housing and vertical side plates welded between said end plates so that the edges of the end plates project beyond the side plates in the form of vertical nanges which, with vthe side plates, constitute horn guides,

The outer frame or shell may include end plates welded to the ends of the tubular barrel or housing. side plates w'elded between said end plates. and longitudinal hollowor channel-sectioned tie bars applied to the outer surface of the tubular barrel and weldedv to the end plates. The hollow or channel-sectioned tie bars may be arranged -to receive bolts for securing end calls or covers,

and may be welded to the surface of the tubular barrel so as to be sealed against the ingress of lubricant used in the axle box.

When horn guide tace liners and cheek liners culation of the oil through the chamber and through the bearings in the barrel.

Figure 1 oi the accompanying drawings is a perspective view of a welded axle box body in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view. on a smalle scale, showing one of the stages in the assembly of the axle box.

Figure 3 is a transverse section through the axle box.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical section on line IV--IV, Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the various component parts of the axle box body except for the end plates.

Figure 6 represents a longitudinal vertical section of a modified construction of axle box in accordance with the invention;

Figure 7 is a cross-section of this modification.

Figure 8 is a plan view.

Referring to Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings, the axle box body therein shown comprises an interior tubular barrel or housing I adapted to house and support suitable ball or roller bearings, the axle box shown being designed for receiving two axially-spaced bearings or a two-row type ot bearing. Welded to the ends of the barrel I are wide vertical end plates 2, 2, whilst welded in position `between these end plates are vertical side plates 3, 3, which are positioned adjacent the sides of barrel I and at some distance inwards of the edges of the end plates 2 so that the latter project beyond the side plates in the form of vertical flanges I which, with the side plates, constitute channel-sectioned horn guides to the faces of which main liner plates 5 and cheek or side liner plates 6 may be spot welded at 5, 6*. These liner plates may also be welded to the side plates 3 and end plates 2 respectively all round their edges, as indicated at 5b, 6b, in Figure l, and when it is necessary to employ these liner plates they are preferably welded to the side and end plates before the latter are assembled, as by this procedure they can be welded all round their edges.

The bottom of the box is completed by a plate l which is iltted between the end plates 2 and beneath the side plates 3, being welded along its edges to these plates. The end plates 2, side plates 3 Iand bottom 1 thus form the outer frame or shell of' the axle box. The side plates 3 of this frame or shell are braced to the barrel I, at points above and below the axis of said barrel, by means of four longitudinally-extending stay or gusset plates 3 disposed in longitudinal oblique planes and welded at their longitudinal edges to the inner faces of said plates 3 and to the barrel I respectively as well as being welded at their ends to the end plates 2. The end plates 2 are also connected together and joined to the barrel I by means of longitudinal hollow tie-bars 9 of halfround section, as shown, or of other channel section, which are seated upon the outer surface of the barrel, being welded thereto along their edges and also being welded at their ends to the inner faces of the end plates. These hollow tie-bars 3 are adapted to receive and house bolts I0 used for securing end caps or covers (indicated by dotted lines at I I in Figure 4). The use of these hollow tie-bars 9 obviates drilling that would be necessary ln a cast box and prevents possible damage to the through bolt-s I0 that would Otherwise be exposed in the welded box described.

'In building up the axle box, the barrel I, end plates 2. side plates 3, and gusset plates 8 are rst assembled together, as shown in Figure 2, by the aid of locating rods I2 which are passed through holes in the end plates. and the parts are welded together whilst so located. The hollow tie-bars 9 are then welded in place and the bottom is welded to the side plates and end plates, but where, as shown in Figure 3, the gussets 8 effectively seal oi the two tie-bars 9 at each side, these tie-'bars may be Welded to the barrel and end plates before application of the side plates. The said tie-bars at the sides, however, may be omitted if desired.

'The top of the axle box body is completed by a balance beam or spring seat portion consisting of transverse front and back recessed members I3. I3.` of channel shape in plan, seated upon and welded to the barrel I and also welded to the inner faces of spaced projections Il on the end plates ,2; and a longitudinal member I5 iitting between and welded to the members I3 and also welded to the barrel I. The said seat portion could, if desired, be made in one piece instead oi' comprising the separate parts I3, I5.

At the lower part of the axle box, the -stay or gussetplates 3 form an enclosed oilchamber I 8 and the barrel I is provided with openings |"I at the middle and with gaps I3 at the ends which 4 provide for the circulation of oil through said chamber I6 and through the bearings in the barrel. The hollow tie-bars 3 in this chamber I8 are sealed against the ingress of oil and thus oil cannot escape past the bolts.

Where through bolts are not used, then the bolts I0 would be omitted, studs being iitted to the end plates for the attachment of the covers.

The side plates 3 may be readily machined to. accurate dimensions before being secured in position on the tubular barrel or housing.

In the modification represented in Figures 6 to 8, the axle box body therein shown comprises a tubular barrel I, end plates 2 welded to the ends of the barrel so as to project laterally therefrom and form horn guide flanges l, and a pair of verticalplates 3, 3b, at each side, these two plates at each side being disposed in spaced vertical alignment above and below the axis of the barrel and being welded to said barrel and to the end plates 2. A liner plate 6 is'welded over these two plates at each side, s o as to bridge them, and liner plates 6 are welded to the guide flanges l. These liner plates 3 may be welded all round to the end plates before these plates are assembled. A bottomplate 1 is welded at its side edges to the lower part of plates 3b and at its ends to the end plates 2, 2,'whilst a frame stop I3, consisting of a ilat steel bar or strap, is welded to theunderside of the bottom plate.

At the top of the box a spring seat plate 2l having a central aperture is shaped on its underside to fit the barrel I and is welded thereto as well as to the adjacent front end plate 2, and at opposite sides oi said seat plate vertical springseat side iangesy 2| are seated at their lower edges upon and are welded to the exterior of the Ibarrel I. vA top horizontal gusset plate of substantially U-shape in plan is tted around the spring seat device. its side portions 22 being recessed on their inner edges to fit around the side anges 2| and being arranged to lit closely between said anges 2| and seat plate .20 on the one hand and the upper sideplates 3* on the other hand to which parts its respective inner and outer edges are welded. The transverse portion 22" oi this gusset plate iills the space between the spring seat plate 20 and the rear end plate 2, its edges being welded to these parts; and on top of this transverse portion 22b an upper frame stop plate 23 is welded to the end plate 2 and to the seat plate 20. Front and back vertical spring-seat anges 24, 25, are welded respectively upon the front end plate 2 and upon the frame stop plate 23.

At the lower part oi.' the axle box oblique longitudinal gusset plates 8 are disposed between the bottom corners of the box and the barrel I, being welded along their edges to said barrel and to the lower side plates 3b and bottom plate 1. These gusset plates 8 are located in a bottom oil chamber I6 and are apertured at 8a to allow of circulation of oil through openings II, I8, in the barrel I and through the said chamber.

Onthe forward end of the axle box body is a front chamber 2B serving as an oil reservoir and communicating with the oil chamber I 8 in the base of the box body through one or more open'- ings 21 in the front end Aplate 2. The chamber 26 is composed of top plate 28, bottom plate 2l, side plates 30, inclined plate 3| and front apertured plate 32 all welded together and to the end plate .2 as shown.

In the drawings the various welded joints are indicated by thick lines.

at their ends to the end plates, and longitudinal gusset plates disposed between the inner faces of theside plates and the surface oi' the barrel at points above and below the axis oi the box, said gusset plates being welded along their edges to the said Parts.

internal tubular barrel unit, an outer box-like i'rame composed of separate plate members welded together and permanently attached to the barrel unit to form a body unit, and a plurality oi.' longitudinally-extending gusset plates disposed in longitudinal planes above and below the axisof the axle box and welded at theirl innerand outer edges respectively to the said barrel unit and to the outer frame. l

Y 2. A built-up welded axle box comprising an internal tubular barrel, vertical end plates welded to the ends of the barrel, and vertical side plates welded between and to said end plates so that the edges oi the end plates project beyond the side plates in the form of flanges which, with the side plates, constitute horn guides.

3. A built-up welded axle boxcomprising an internal tubular barrel, vertical end plates welded to the ends of the barrel, vertical sideV plates.

welded between said end plates to form horn guides, and a bottom plate welded between the end plates and to the side plates to form a chamber below the barrel.

.4.. A built-up welded axle box comprising an internal tubular barrel having oil openings in its lower part, v'ertical end plates welded to the ends of the barrel, vertical side plates welded bet'ween said end plates to form horn guides. and a bottom plate welded between the end plates and to the side plates to form a chamber below the barrel and in communication with the interior of the latter through the openings therein.

5. A built-up welded axle box comprising-.an internal tubular barrel, vertical end plates welded to the ends of the barrel, -vertical side plates welded between said end plates to form horn guides, andhollow tie-bars applied to the outer surface of the barrel and welded to the en plates. i

10. A built-up welded axle box comprising an` y internal tubular barrel, end plates welded to the ends of the barrel, and a plurality of separate side plates disposed in vertical alignment at each side of the barrel, being welded to saidbarrel and to the end plates, so that the edges of said end plates project beyond the side plates to i'orm ilanges which, with the side plates, constitute horn guides.

11. A built-up welded axle box comprising an internal tubular barrel, end plates welded to the ends of the barrel, a plurality of separate side 1plates disposed in vertical alignment at each side of the barrel, being welded to said barrel and to the end plates so that the edges of said end plates project beyond the side plates to form horn guides, a bottom plate welded to the end plates 6. A built-up welded. axle box comprising an internal tubular barrel, vertical end plates welded to the ends of the barrel., vertical side plates `welded between said end plates to form horn guides, hollow tie-bars applied to the outer surface oi' the barrel and welded to the end plates, and bolts passing through said hollow tie-bars for securing end covers to the axle box. '7. A built-up welded axle box comprising an internal tubular barrel, vertical end plates welded to the ends` of the barrel, vertical side plates Welded between said end plates, hollow tie-bars welded to the surface of the barrel and also to the ends plates, and bolts passing through said hollow tie-bars for securing end covers to the axle box.

8. A .built-up welded axle box comprising an internal tubular barrel, vertical end plates welded to the ends of the barrel, vertical side'plates welded between said end plates so that the edges of the end plates project beyond the side plates -in the form of flanges which, with the side plates,

constitute horn guides, and'horn guide face liners and cheek liners fitted to the side and end plate iianges, being welded all round to the said plates and langes before the plates are secured to the barre;

and to the lower side plates, and obliquely-disposed longitudinal gussetplates interposed between and welded along their edges to said barrel v and side plates.

12. A built-up weldedaxle box comprising an internal tubular barrel, en d plates welded to the ends of the barrel, a plurality of separate side plates disposed in vertical alignment at each side oi.' the barrel, being welded to said barrel and to the end plates so that the edges of said end plates project beyond the side plates to form horn guides, a bottom plate welded to the end plates and to the lower sideplates, obliquely-disposed longitudinal gusset plates welded along their edges to said barrel' and to the lower side plates. a spring seat device welded to the top ofthe barrel, and gusset plates disposed between said spring seat device and the upper side plates, being welded at' their edges to said parts.

13. A built-up welded axle box comprising an internal tubular barrel, end plates welded to the ends of the barrel, a plurality ofl separate side plates disposed in vertical alignment at each side of the barrel, being welded to said barrel and to the end plates so that the edges of said end plates project beyond the side plates to form horn guides, a bottom plate welded to the end plates and to the lower side plates, obliquely-disposed longi-' tudinal lower gusset plates welded along their edges to said barrel and to the lower side plates. a spring seat plate shaped to fit upon the top of the barrel and welded thereto. vertical side flanges seated upon and welded to the barrel so as to form with the seat plate a spring seat device, and a U- shaped gusset plate fitted around the spring seat device? its side portions fitting between and being welded to the seat device and the side plates and its transverse portion filling the space between the seat plate and one of the end plates, being welded 4 thereto.

9. A built-up welded axle box comprising an CEDRIC ALBERT BOWEN.

,/ REFERENCES c rrED UNITED STATES PATENTS Date Number Name 287,572 Pagan 1- Oct. 30, 1883 v FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country v Date 512,843 Great Britain Sept. 27, 1939 

